Doing lots of catch-up journaling again. How did I fall almost a month behind again?Going for more walks in the evenings with Keith and the girls.Loving the Fall weather that has come to Manitoba. Love the trees turning colour and the cool air.Hating that Fall gives way to Winter. Can’t it just stay Fall until Spring?Discovering pure and simple joy again, such as watching Violet ride her tricycle to the park all by herself the other day. Proud mama heart here.

Enjoying my quiet mornings before the girls wake up for the day.Listening (to) Violet talk 300 miles an hour about My Little Pony, going on the candy train and picking up her cousins and random stuff that (almost) 3-year-olds talk about.Celebrating that Keith got a new job and starts after our Canadian Thanksgiving. Yeah!!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Dear Dominique:Oh my girl, 5 months old already?! You still amaze me with how much you’ve grown in the past month and continue to grow and learn.

You’ve mastered the rolling around everywhere routine and just love it when I leave you in one spot in the living room and when I come back a couple minutes later, you’re a couple feet away from where I left you. Luckily your big sister Violet is very watchful over you and makes sure that you’re OK when you’re rolling around.

You also like taking naps with Mommy in the big bed when we’re having a rough day and enjoy the cuddles that you get from everyone.
We also just started you on pureed foods (so far avocado and banana), and you love it! You gobbled it down in no time and I’m starting to get scared for the future grocery bills.

Monday, September 8, 2014

I guess we can say that Summer 2014 is done now, with kids back in school, cooler weather and shorter days. I do like summer, don't get me wrong, but I'm not a big fan of the heat (and we have bad humidity here in Manitoba, Canada), so the cooler months of fall are very welcome for me.

Although Violet doesn't care about the weather, as long as we can get out to play, she's fine with whatever weather there is. And I'm thinking that Dominique is the same way. Oh well. At least they want to be outside instead of sitting inside, watching TV all the time.

This summer was a busy one, that's for sure. A almost 3-year-old who is constantly on the go, and a brand new baby definitely made this summer interesting. But well worth it.

And what did we do this summer? Hmmm.... Let's take a look.

We visited the Assiniboine Zoo for the day and got kissed by a camel.

Played soccer with Great-Pepere

Lots of Splash Park fun

Even Dominique enjoyed the Splash Park

And went to St. Malo Beach almost every week.

Can't forget about the baby who sleeps anywhere :)

More beach fun :)

Did the Winnipeg River Boat Tours with my Mom.

Spending as much time as we can with Daddy.

Attempted growing some hot peppers. Unfortunately, they weren't the ones that Keith was hoping for. Maybe next year.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.Watching Dominique master her rolling over both ways. Eeek!Trying to keep my grocery list under budget, but failing. We ran out of EVERYTHING this week.

Cooking more new recipes this week. And they were hits as well!Eating waffles for supper tonight.Drinking Organic Earl Grey loose leaf tea. Simply divine.Doing nothing much this weekend. And it’s nice.Loving how the girls get along so well, even if Violet is showering Dom in kisses.Hating that I’m not sleeping very well this week.

Discovering my love for journaling again. Fell behind for a while and now that I’m caught up, it’s easier to keep on writing.Enjoying relaxing weekend mornings.Thinking of joining a Mom’s group at church during the week. Would be nice to get out of the house.Feeling sleep deprived.

Hoping (for) Keith to get a new job soon. His place of work is shutting down at the end of November and we really need him to get a new job before then.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

I Want to Remember your endless amounts of smiles for Mommy when I come to get you from your crib in the middle of the night for a feeding. You’re always so happy to see Mommy, no matter what time of day it is.I Want to Remember how happy you are on any given day. Like seriously contagious happy. Unless it’s a bad day, but even then there are moments you are really happy. And what makes you happy? Just seeing people who love you, especially Mommy, Daddy and Violet.

I Want to Remember your attempts at giggling/laughing. You’re this close and it has Daddy frustrated that you’re not giggling for him yet, although we can tell that you want to.I Want to Remember that you are always more content being held by someone than being put into your chair/swing/bouncer/play mat. You love people interaction and it definitely shows.

I Want to Remember how endlessly entertained you are with your fists in your mouth, no matter what we’re doing. Unless you’re eating. Then you clutch Mommy’s shirt with one fist, while the other is tightened into a ball. I have mouth/teething toys for you, but you’d rather your fists or any piece of clothing to put into your mouth. Oh, and you drool a bit as well.

I Want to Remember how much music calms you down when you’re fussing, but not hungry yet. Especially if I’m doing dishes and need you to be entertained for a bit. I’ll put the music on and you are back to being happy. Especially if it’s Weird Al Yankovic playing on iTunes.I Want to Remember how hard you are trying to get mobile. You’re rolling over both ways and when you’re on your tummy, you get your knees underneath you and try to get your bum up in the air. I have no doubt you’ll be mobile soon.

I Want to Remember all the “noise” you make, whether you’re happy or sad. It’s constant noise from you, and I love it. One day all this babbling will turn into actual conversations with us, but right now, I’ll take this.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

I want to remember you pretending to be a monster wrapped up in your monster towel, running around the house going “rawr!”

I want to remember how unconditionally you love your little sister. You wake up first thing in the morning and automatically ask if Dom is awake. And if she is, you’re in her room, saying “Morning Dominique!”

I Want to Remember how much you love having tickle fights with Daddy. Even though you ask him to stop multiple times, you always go back for me and it makes me so happy to see that.

I Want to Remember the millions of questions you ask and repeat over and over again. I’m glad that you’re inquisitive and asking questions. And if it’s a mundane question, I come up with hilarious ways to answer them for you and make you laugh.

I Want to Remember how much you love to help me in the kitchen when making lunch/supper. You always have to be standing on your chair, watching me and waiting for me to give you the mixing spoon so that you can stir. And always asking questions as to what I’m doing or making.

I Want to Remember the love that you have for your Grandparents and how much you love to play with them. Especially Papa Wiebe and Grandpa Neufeld. And how much you love to go shopping with Grandma Wiebe. I’m glad you have so many grandparents to chose from.

I Want to Remember how you’re trying to help me kill crickets in the house right now. Mommy kills at least 2 a day and you’re right beside me, helping me look for them and when I find one and kill you, you go “Mommy got cricket!”

I Want to Remember that when you’re playing right now, Tea Time is the best. You’ll grab whatever kitchen you have and bring it up to me and go “tea time Mommy,” and I have to give it a sip and tell you how good you made the tea this time. Same thing for when you’re “making food” and ask me to sample it.